Mother of all Bollywood fights this Diwali

Diwali releases in Bollywood follow a set pattern. They often rely on noise to be heard above the din of fireworks. The film industry, that often talks of how it is one big happy family, suddenly forgets the bonhomie and fights it out — for a larger share of the box-office pie.

Films that are high on concept rough it out with those that are low on content, under the guise of family entertainers. And like in the jungle, might is always right. So, the big guy invariably takes on the smaller one. Looking back at the record of the last five years, you will see how films have used the media blitzkrieg to help them make that initial killing. When two films are released around Diwali, their makers stoop to terrible depths, just to grab more eyeballs than their rival.

Trade consultant Amod Mehra says, "There's enough room for two movies to release comfortably on Diwali. But filmmakers coming together on the same day have resorted to controversy, hoping that they will get the lion's share of the business on the opening weekend."

This year, of course, we have witnessed the mother of all Diwali fights. Ajay Devgn and his Son of Sardaar has launched an attack against Aditya Chopra, Shah Rukh Khan and their film Jab Tak Hai Jaan. Ajay has made accusations of malpractice and matters have taken a legal course. The actor maintains, "It's a producer fighting another producer for monopolistic practices. It's nothing personal between SRK and me." SRK jokes, "May Ajay's film do well and my film do better." If you read between the lines, you may be able to see through their 'magnanimity'. Another fallout of the tussle is that Ajay's wife Kajol, who is close to SRK and Adi, may have to sacrifice her friendship, because her husband and her close friends are at loggerheads.

Talking about Diwali catfights, here's looking back at the past five years:

2011 Shah Rukh Khan booked 95 per cent of the screens for his most ambitious film, RA.One, leaving 5 per cent for Hema Malini's directorial venture Tell Me O Kkhuda, a film that was meant to be her daughter Esha Deol's relaunch pad. RA.One made money, but it damaged SRK's pride because of the criticism that came his way. Tell Me O Kkhuda was buried under the debris.RA.One: Won Tell Me O Kkhuda: Lost

2010 Vipul Shah's Action Replayy, starring Akshay Kumar and Aishwarya Rai, clashed with Rohit Shetty's Golmaal 3. There were attempts to create a war between Ash-Kareena and Ajay-Akshay. Rohit and Ajay bragged about how they are an 'unbeatable combination' on Diwali. Vipul lost the battle, because Action Replayy and its retro theme found few takers. Ironically, G3 was also termed a no-brainer, but went on to cross the `100-cr figure.Action Replayy: Lost Golmaal 3: Won

2009 Akshay Kumar's high-sea adventure Blue and Ajay Devgn's slapstick comedy All The Best clashed. Blue started well at the ticket windows. It took All The Best three days to catch up with Blue and eventually overtake it. Akshay and Ajay indulged in some small-time gossip about each other. But the situation didn't turn ugly, because Blue was such a pathetic film that it sank without a trace. Blue: Lost All The Best: Won

2008 The war between Madhur Bhandarkar's Fashion and Rohit Shetty's Golmaal Returns was more civil. Here, there was a clear division, with the critics rooting for Fashion. The Priyanka Chopra-Kangana Ranaut film sailed through at the box office. But it was Golmaal Returns, a film that the thinking public panned, which made a killing at the ticket counters. Fashion: Won Golmaal Returns: Won

2007 Farah Khan and Sanjay Leela Bhansali — were friends who turned foes —when they went on to make personal remarks against each other while promoting Om Shanti Om (OSO) and Saawariya, respectively. OSO with SRK and Deepika Padukone won the bout. Saawariya, which introduced Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor flopped. It took three years after this for Sanjay and Farah to return to being friends. Now, they laugh off their fight as childish.Om Shanti Om: Won Saawariya: Lost